IndustryNews Industry News Information to help you run your business RESEARCH sport,” notes Craig Morris, the USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis. U.S. Tennis Participation “We are energized to continue putting forward key industry partnerships and Surges in 2020, Up 44% quality programming to ensure new and existing players of all ages and abilities have the best experience playing the sport for a lifetime.” To capitalize on the momentum surrounding participation, the USTA collaborated with leading manufacturers and mass retailers to include a “Net Gen- eration” hangtag on over 400,000 youth racquets sold by various sporting goods, tennis and mass retailers across the U.S. Beginning in early Q2, the hangtags will include information about Net Genera- tion, the o cial youth tennis brand of the USTA, aimed at making it easier for kids to get into the game. The USTA says it will continue to provide resources to certifi ed provid- Of the more than 21 million Americans saying they ers and facilities across the country to played tennis last year, ensure new and existing tennis players 6.78 million were new and have access to programming that is safe returning players. and fun. ennis participation and existing players came back to the Tennis Channel Seeks increased by 22 percent in sport—especially in what was such a ‘America’s Top Coach’ 2020, with 21.64 million challenging year for so many people,” people saying they hit the says USTA CEO and Executive Director courts last year, accord- Mike Dowse. “These new participation TENNIS PARTICIPATIONing to data from the GROWTH Physical Activity IN 2020numbers are a testament to the hard TCouncil (PAC). work, passion and commit- Of the total number of ment of a united industry. players, 2.96 million were Even though we continue to new to the game—a 44 face challenges, it’s evident percent increase over new that many people recognize Tennis Channel is searching for players in 2019. Additionally, tennis as the ideal social- “America’s Top Coaches,” in a contest the 3.82 million Americans distancing sport.” that celebrates TC’s new Topspin newslet- NEAR 3 MILLION who returnedNEW PLAYERS to PICKEDthe sport UP is 4 MILLION In addition to the increase ter. Coaches were nominated through TENNIS a 40 percentA RACQUET increase IN 2020 over MORE PEOPLE in participation, the Ten- mid-March, then narrowed to the top 50. PARTICIPATION AN INCREASE OF 44% PLAYED TENNIS INCREASED 22% IN 2020 those OVERwho NEW returned PLAYERS IN to 2019 the IN 2020 THAN IN 2019 nis Industry Association Fan voting takes place through April 11 sport in 2019. The PAC’s reported that racquet sales in to determine the Top 10 fi nalists (5 men, annual sports participation the entry-level category have 5 women). report, produced by SportsSource: Marketing 2020 Physical Activity Council’s Participationseen nearly (PAC) Report. 40 percent growth in 2020, The fi nal round of fan voting will take Surveys, monitors more than 120 sports vs. 2019. place April 19 to May 2 to determine the and activities in the U.S. “We are excited to see these positive grand prize winners for America’s Top COURTESY USTA COURTESY “We are thrilled that so many new trends and such signifi cant growth in our Coach, for both men and women. The www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com April 2021 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7 IndustryNews Grand Prize winners will be featured on Tennis Channel, TENNIS.com, in TENNIS Short Magazine and in the Topspin newsletter, Sets in addition to receiving $500. Other fi nal- ists, and those who nominate coaches, can win prizes as well. In a multi-year deal, Head has become The National Federation of State Visit Tennis.com to fi nd out more about the offi cial ball, racquet and string for High School Associations (NFHS) has the contest, and to sign up for the new the Laver Cup. This year’s edition is partnered with Universal Tennis, a global Topspin newsletter. scheduled to be held at the TD Garden online platform for connecting players, in Boston from Sept. 24 to 26. Head will coaches, clubs and federations to grow USTA to Provide $100,000 work with the Laver Cup team to design the sport. Through the partnership, the in PTM Scholarships a special edition Laver Cup-branded NFHS hopes to use UTR to signifi cantly The USTA will partner with the USPTA and racquet and bag that will be sold in the reduce "stacking" in high school tennis, PTR to grant up to $100,000 in scholarships lead-up to and during the event. a tactic employed by coaches to place to current or incoming college students higher caliber players against lower cali- enrolled in Professional Tennis Management The International Tennis Federation and ber players to create favorable scoring programs, to support students looking to the Hungarian National Sports Agency matchups. pursue careers in the tennis industry. have announced that the Billie Jean King A total of 50 students can receive up to Cup by BNP Paribas Finals, originally US Open champion Sloane Stephens is $2,000 in scholarship money for tuition, slated to take place April 13-18, will be a strategic investor and ambassador for provided they are enrolled in a PTM program rescheduled to later dates in 2021, due to Quantum Energy Squares, a plant-based during the 2021-22 academic year. Ten COVID-19 restrictions. energy bar. universities and colleges in America have de- signed PTM programs for students who want to learn the coaching and business skills to 8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY April 2021 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com IndustryNews be successful in the tennis industry. Babolat Creates Lab to Study nies will scientifically explore and improve “With 4 million new tennis players ‘Human Racquet Sports Player’ knowledge of players through the applica- in 2020, we have a unique opportunity Two French companies, Babolat, a leader in tion of biomechanics to racquet sports. A to make sure we retain and engage our racquet sports equipment, and HumanFab, racquet sports laboratory will focus on the new players with the best experience sports science expert in human engineer- human factor to advance knowledge so that possible,” says Martin Blackman, general ing, announced a joint collaboration to cre- product innovation will suit players’ needs, manager of USTA Player and Coach De- ate and develop a one-of-kind laboratory helping them discover their potential and velopment. “That means great coaches focused on the study of “the human racquet optimize performance. delivering the sport at every level, and sports player.” The first phase of the collaboration begins PTM programs are a perfect launch pad Merging their expertise, the two compa- this year with the construction of the nearly for our next generation of coaches.” For more information and to apply, visit usta.com/ptm and click on “Schol- arships.” The application deadline is April 24. Van der Meer to be Inducted into International Tennis HOF Teaching legend Dennis Van der Meer, former world No. 1 and two-time major champion Lleyton Hewitt, and the trailblazing Original 9 of women’s professional tennis will be the recipi- ents of the sport's ultimate honor this year: induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “It’s a pleasure to welcome these tennis greats into the International Tennis Hall of Fame,” says ITHOF President Stan Smith. “Dennis Van der Meer … was a tremendous coach, teacher and real visionary for the future of the sport.” The Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2021 is scheduled to be held at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. on Saturday, July 17, 2021. The 2020 ceremony was cancelled due to COVID-19, and there- fore the induction ceremony will also honor Class of 2020 inductees Goran COURTESY PTR COURTESY Ivanisevic and Conchita Martinez. www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com April 2021 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9 IndustryNews 27,000-square-foot Racquet Sports Players PlaySight installed on their campuses, Tennis Racquet Performance Laboratory in Aix en Provence, France, with teams using the live-streaming at Specialty Stores which includes a tennis court. technology to provide a viewing platform for parents, fans and alumni, as well as Jan.-Dec., 2020 vs. 2019 ITA, Playsight Extend Partnership leveraging the system’s analytics and The Intercollegiate Tennis Association performance video capabilities for player Units 2020 588,538 and PlaySight have extended their part- development and coaching. Eight of the 2019 602,680 nership in which PlaySight is an Offi cial 14 ITA Kickoff Weekend events were % change vs. ’19 -2% Live Streaming Partner of the ITA. live-streamed using PlaySight. Dollars 2020 $93,334,000 Close to 100 college tennis pro- For more information, go to playsight. 2019 $101,988,000 grams across all divisions of play have com and wearecollegetennis.com. % change vs. ’19 -8% Price 2020 $158.59 2019 $169.22 % change vs. ’19 -6% Top-Selling Racquets LOVE LOVE at Specialty Stores Club members and students will LOVE facing By year-to-date dollars, off against the phenom. You will LOVE Jan.-Dec. 2020 offering the added advantage. Best Sellers 1. Wilson Clash 100 2019 (MP) ® 2. Babolat Pure Aero 2019 (MP) follow lobstersports on play more. win more®. 3. Babolat Pure Drive 2018 (MP) For more information, please call 888.380.9460 or visit www.lobstersports.com 4. Wilson Blade 98 16x19 V7’20 (MP) 5. Babolat Pure Drive 2021 (MP) “Hot New Racquets” (introduced in the past 12 months) 1. Babolat Pure Drive 2021 (MP) 2. Wilson Ultra 100 V3 2020 3.